| Description |
Most libraries in the 21st century provide databases for their users. These databases seem to have rapidly multiplied over the years. At our academic library, there are over 320 databases available giving both librarians and patrons a broad array to choose from at any given time. Even with this abundance many of us have a tendency to refer patrons to a narrower list of "Favorite Databases" while unconsciously ignoring a larger body of rich databases we maintain and pay for on a regular basis. Some on my list of "Favorite Databases" include: Academic Search Premier, America: History and Life, Biosis, Business Source Premier, Com Abstracts, Compendex, ERIC, GPO, Inspec, Lexis Nexis, Medline, MLA, PsycInfo, Proquest, SciFinder Scholar, SPORTDiscus, Web of Knowledge and WorldCat. They become favorites just because they are so easy to use and are widely used on our campus by both librarians and patrons alike. While this list is a good start to work with, we still have over 300 databases we are not tapping into at this time. Should we not make the most of what resources we have, evaluate the needs of our patrons, and recommend and use these lesser used databases? Let us try and benefit from this bountiful collection. |
